Basic Copyright Information
What is copyright?
Copyright is the legal right of an author of a creative work to control the copying of that work. Copyright prevents others from making copies of the creator's work, providing a public performance of it, or making derivative works.
What works are protected by copyright and for how long?
Works that are "original works of authorship" and "fixed in any tangible medium of expression" receive automatic copyright protection. Given the low standard of originality that is required and the variety of formats that can serve as the "medium of expression", copyright can apply to almost anything in print or in any other format.
Copyrights today usually last through the life of the author plus seventy years, although there are many variations for both published and unpublished works and the time frame for copyright protection has been changed over the years. A chart prepared by Cornell University shows the various terms of U.S. copyright protection. (Copyright law in other countries differ. See the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.)
When the copyright expires, the work enters the public domain, and it may be copied and used without worrying about copyright infringement.
Copyright Topics:
- Fair Use
- Plagiarism
- Copyright & Students
- Copying in the Classroom
- Using multimedia in the Classroom
- Distance Education
- Reserve Collection
- Interlibrary Loan
- Where and how to get copyright permissions
- Your rights as an author
- CUNY and Model Higher Ed Site Links
- Copyright Law, Hot Topics and Useful Tools
- Disclaimer